Alabama Home Builder & Roofer License Renewal (HBLB)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

Alabama home builder licenses (unlimited and limited) and residential roofer licenses are issued by the Home Builders Licensure Board and expire on December 31 every year. Renewal opens October 1 and is due by November 30: $250 for a home builder license, $150 for a roofer license, plus a $50 late fee from December 1. Licensees under 60 need 6 hours of Board-approved continuing education each year, home builders have a business credit report sent to the Board and roofers send proof their bond was renewed. A license not renewed by December 31 expires.

At a glance

Who needs it: Anyone who builds a residence for sale, or for a price, fee or wage builds, supervises, manages or consults on building, repairing or improving a home of up to three floors and four units when the cost of the undertaking exceeds $10,000. A residential roofer needs a license when the cost exceeds $2,500 (Code of Ala. 34-14A-2). Work on your own residence or other real estate is excluded
Expires: December 31 every year. A license is valid only during the calendar year shown on it
Renewal opens: October 1, online or with the Board's paper renewal application for your license type (unlimited, limited or roofer; individual, corporate or inactive)
Deadline: November 30: a paper renewal postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service (not metered) on or before November 30, or an online renewal paid by 11:59 pm that day, is on time
Fee: $250 for an unlimited or limited home builder license (the $235 license fee plus the $15 Homeowners' Recovery Fund fee), $150 for a residential roofer license
Payment: Personal or company check, cashier's check, certified check or money order payable to the Home Builders Licensure Board; credit or debit card (Visa or MasterCard) only when renewing online. The Board doesn't accept cash
Late fee: $50, for a renewal postmarked or received from December 1 to December 31
After December 31: The license expires and the online renewal closes. Within three years you can still renew an expired active license with an expired license application: $600 for a home builder ($250 plus a $350 processing fee) or $300 for a roofer ($150 plus $150). After three years the file is closed and you file a new license application (for an unlimited license, that means the home builders exam and a credit report)
Continuing education: 6 credit hours of Board-approved CE every year for each active individual licensee, or a company's designated qualifying representative. Up to 6 hours can carry over to the next licensure period. A credit hour is 50 minutes
CE timing: Your renewal can be filed first, but the license won't be issued until your CE and every other requirement are met: the Board suggests finishing CE before October 1. CE not done by November 30 can bring a $50 continuing education late fee
CE exemptions: Exemptions include licensees 60 or over on or before October 1 (send the Board's age exemption form with proof of age), inactive licensees, the first renewal after your initial license, and some military licensees
Home builder renewal package: A business-related credit report with a public records search, sent to the Board directly by a credit reporting agency (the renewal packet's order form lists a $35 fee)
Roofer renewal package: Documentation from your insurance agent or surety that your roofers bond has been renewed, with a new expiration date of December 31 of the license year or later. A card receipt or online confirmation isn't accepted
Inactive license: If you won't do residential work over $10,000 on a single job ($2,500 for roofers) next year, you can file a new inactive license application instead: $125 for a home builder, $75 for a roofer, with no CE or credit report. An inactive license doesn't allow residential construction; going active again takes a new application and, unless exempt, 6 CE hours

A home builder license isn't a general contractor license. Alabama's general contractor law exempts work on residences (Code of Ala. 34-8-7), and the Board says anyone holding a general contractor license numbered 18908 or higher needs a home builder license for residential construction.

An unlimited home builder license covers residential roofing; a limited home builder license doesn't, so limited licensees need a roofer license for roofing work.

If your company's designated qualifying representative leaves, tell the Board immediately and name a new one within 45 days. Report a name change within 60 days: a license issued under the former name expires 60 days after the change.

The Board's rules say 2 of the 6 CE hours each year must, or may have to, be specific courses it approves (Rules 465-X-3-.06 and 465-X-8-.03 word it differently): check the Board's approved course list before you book.

Questions: the Board's licensure division is at 800-304-0853, and its office at 334-242-2230.

How to renew

Finish your 6 hours of Board-approved CE (unless you're exempt), ideally before October 1 so the license isn't held up.
Home builders: order your business credit report so the credit reporting agency sends it to the Board. Roofers: get documentation from your agent or surety that your roofers bond is renewed.
From October 1, renew online, or mail the paper renewal application for your license type with a check or money order: $250 for a home builder, $150 for a roofer.
Make sure it's paid online by 11:59 pm or postmarked by November 30. From December 1 there's a $50 late fee.
Not renewed by December 31? The license expires: file the expired license application ($600 home builder, $300 roofer) within three years.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

SeptemberFinish your 6 CE hours (unless exempt) and order your credit report, or roofers: renew your bond.
October 1Renewal opens: renew online or mail the paper application for your license type.
November 30Deadline: paid online by 11:59 pm or postmarked today. From December 1 there's a $50 late fee.
December 31Licenses expire. After this an expired active license needs an expired license application ($600 home builder, $300 roofer).

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your residential roofers bond (renewed each license year)
Your local business licenses and building permits
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

When do Alabama home builder licenses expire?

December 31 every year. Renewal opens October 1 and is due November 30: a renewal postmarked or received from December 1 to December 31 pays a $50 late fee.

How much does it cost to renew an Alabama home builder license?

$250 for an unlimited or limited home builder license and $150 for a residential roofer license, plus the $50 late fee from December 1.

How many CE hours does an Alabama home builder need?

6 credit hours of Board-approved CE every year for each active individual licensee, or a company's designated qualifying representative. Licensees 60 or over on or before October 1, inactive licensees and first-time renewals are exempt.

What if my Alabama home builder license expired?

Within three years you can still renew an expired active license with an expired license application: $600 for a home builder or $300 for a roofer. After three years the file is closed and you file a new license application (for an unlimited license, that means the home builders exam and a credit report).

Do I need a license to build or remodel homes in Alabama?

Generally yes, from the Home Builders Licensure Board, when the cost of the undertaking exceeds $10,000 ($2,500 for residential roofing). Work on your own residence or other real estate is excluded.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board (HBLB), Licensee FAQ

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Alabama guides

All Alabama guides on one page

2027 license renewal deadlines, month by month

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

Alabama Home Builder & Roofer License Renewal (HBLB)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 5 min read

At a glance

Who needs it: Anyone who builds a residence for sale, or for a price, fee or wage builds, supervises, manages or consults on building, repairing or improving a home of up to three floors and four units when the cost of the undertaking exceeds $10,000. A residential roofer needs a license when the cost exceeds $2,500 (Code of Ala. 34-14A-2). Work on your own residence or other real estate is excluded
Expires: December 31 every year. A license is valid only during the calendar year shown on it
Renewal opens: October 1, online or with the Board's paper renewal application for your license type (unlimited, limited or roofer; individual, corporate or inactive)
Deadline: November 30: a paper renewal postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service (not metered) on or before November 30, or an online renewal paid by 11:59 pm that day, is on time
Fee: $250 for an unlimited or limited home builder license (the $235 license fee plus the $15 Homeowners' Recovery Fund fee), $150 for a residential roofer license
Payment: Personal or company check, cashier's check, certified check or money order payable to the Home Builders Licensure Board; credit or debit card (Visa or MasterCard) only when renewing online. The Board doesn't accept cash
Late fee: $50, for a renewal postmarked or received from December 1 to December 31
After December 31: The license expires and the online renewal closes. Within three years you can still renew an expired active license with an expired license application: $600 for a home builder ($250 plus a $350 processing fee) or $300 for a roofer ($150 plus $150). After three years the file is closed and you file a new license application (for an unlimited license, that means the home builders exam and a credit report)
Continuing education: 6 credit hours of Board-approved CE every year for each active individual licensee, or a company's designated qualifying representative. Up to 6 hours can carry over to the next licensure period. A credit hour is 50 minutes
CE timing: Your renewal can be filed first, but the license won't be issued until your CE and every other requirement are met: the Board suggests finishing CE before October 1. CE not done by November 30 can bring a $50 continuing education late fee
CE exemptions: Exemptions include licensees 60 or over on or before October 1 (send the Board's age exemption form with proof of age), inactive licensees, the first renewal after your initial license, and some military licensees
Home builder renewal package: A business-related credit report with a public records search, sent to the Board directly by a credit reporting agency (the renewal packet's order form lists a $35 fee)
Roofer renewal package: Documentation from your insurance agent or surety that your roofers bond has been renewed, with a new expiration date of December 31 of the license year or later. A card receipt or online confirmation isn't accepted
Inactive license: If you won't do residential work over $10,000 on a single job ($2,500 for roofers) next year, you can file a new inactive license application instead: $125 for a home builder, $75 for a roofer, with no CE or credit report. An inactive license doesn't allow residential construction; going active again takes a new application and, unless exempt, 6 CE hours

An unlimited home builder license covers residential roofing; a limited home builder license doesn't, so limited licensees need a roofer license for roofing work.

Questions: the Board's licensure division is at 800-304-0853, and its office at 334-242-2230.

How to renew

Finish your 6 hours of Board-approved CE (unless you're exempt), ideally before October 1 so the license isn't held up.
Home builders: order your business credit report so the credit reporting agency sends it to the Board. Roofers: get documentation from your agent or surety that your roofers bond is renewed.
From October 1, renew online, or mail the paper renewal application for your license type with a check or money order: $250 for a home builder, $150 for a roofer.
Make sure it's paid online by 11:59 pm or postmarked by November 30. From December 1 there's a $50 late fee.
Not renewed by December 31? The license expires: file the expired license application ($600 home builder, $300 roofer) within three years.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

SeptemberFinish your 6 CE hours (unless exempt) and order your credit report, or roofers: renew your bond.
October 1Renewal opens: renew online or mail the paper application for your license type.
November 30Deadline: paid online by 11:59 pm or postmarked today. From December 1 there's a $50 late fee.
December 31Licenses expire. After this an expired active license needs an expired license application ($600 home builder, $300 roofer).

Put this renewal in your calendar

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

Your residential roofers bond (renewed each license year)
Your local business licenses and building permits
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

When do Alabama home builder licenses expire?

December 31 every year. Renewal opens October 1 and is due November 30: a renewal postmarked or received from December 1 to December 31 pays a $50 late fee.

How much does it cost to renew an Alabama home builder license?

$250 for an unlimited or limited home builder license and $150 for a residential roofer license, plus the $50 late fee from December 1.

How many CE hours does an Alabama home builder need?

What if my Alabama home builder license expired?

Do I need a license to build or remodel homes in Alabama?

Generally yes, from the Home Builders Licensure Board, when the cost of the undertaking exceeds $10,000 ($2,500 for residential roofing). Work on your own residence or other real estate is excluded.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board (HBLB), Licensee FAQ

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Alabama guides

All Alabama guides on one page

2027 license renewal deadlines, month by month

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet